Grain sorter or separator.



No. 784,134. PATENTED MAR. 1. 1905.

P. L. BLOCK. q GRAIN SORTER 0R SEPARATOR.

APPLIOA TIOH FILED MAR. 9. 1904.

avwcmtoz Patented March 7, 1905.

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FRANCIS L. BLOCK, OF SIDNEY, ILLINOIS.

GWMIN SUFITEH UR SEFAWMI'UW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,134, dated March '7', 1905.

I Application filed March 9, 1904. Serial No. 1.973%.

'1'!) (6 whom it may concern:

Be itlmown that I, FRANCIS L. BLOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Uhampaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Grain Sorters or Separators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a novel grain sorter or separator, and has for its primary object the provision of improved adjustz'ible instrmnentalities upon which an indis ,=.riminate supply of grain may be deposited and worked so that all grain approximating a predetermined size may be separated from the bulk.

The invention is particularly susceptible of use in connection with shelled corn which is to be fed to and distributed by planters for cultivating purposes.

It has been found that in the larger number of seed-planter machines at present being marketed, especially those types involving the use of a seed-slide, the openings in the slide through whichthe corn or other grain falls from the carrying-receptacle are of a standard or uniform size. Consequently itis desirable that the grain utilized for the purposes designated be also of a substantially uniform grade or size, so as to freely pass through the said openings in the slide, thereby preventing clogging of the machine and facilitating regularity of the feed therefrom.

\Vith the above-mentioncd ends in view the invention contemplates a separator provided with a slatted bottom, the slats or bars of which are pivoted and separated at a normal distance apart to permit the corn or seed to pass therebetween, and instrumentalities as sociated with said slatted bottom for adjust ing the slats to reduce or enlarge the spaces therebetween and control the grade or size of grain which may pass therethrough, and preferably. though not necessarily, means for locking the slatsor bars in adjusted position. Novel characteristics of the several parts and of the construction and arrangement thereof will be apparent from the detailed descrip tion hereinafter when read in connection with 'be limited to the specilic details of the construction described herein, except in so far as any such details may be included in the appended claims, bccause it is obvious that minor changes and alterations may be made with out in the least departing from the spirit of the in vention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the separator, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are cross-sectional views on the lines ."r w and 1 respectively, of Fig. I looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the slats in different positions; and Fig. i is a detail perspective view.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like refcri'rnce characters refer to corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the side walls, and B the end walls, of the receptacle adapted to receive the corn or seed to be separated. The bottom of the receptacle is formed of a series of pivotedslats or bars (3, arranged longitudinally of the receptacle and in parallel planes, said bars being normally separated to form intervening spaces (1 for the passage of corn of a predetermined size through the bottom, whereby the same may become separated from the bulk. 6 represents the pivots for the slats, engaging the ends thereof and the end walls of the receptacle. The slats are preferably mounted in two series, each operable independently of the other, the slats of one series alternating with the slats of the other series and each series being provided with a single operating means, as will be apparent from Figs. 2 and 3. A description of one of the series will sul'lice for both. The alternate slats have thimbles D fitting the ends thereof and strengthening the same and also constituting securing means for upwardly-projecting levers E. The thimbles and levers are convcn iently formed of sheet metal and of a single piece, the levers being secured at the under edge of the thimblesand extending across the ends of the slats, the pivots of the slats pass- ,thin metal to afford the least obstruction in the space within the receptacle. This operating-lever is pivoted intermediate its ends to the slidable plate F and is rigidly secured at its lowerend to the end of one of the centrally-located slats. It will be seen that by the manipulation of the lever G, the same extending slightly above the upper edge of the receptacle to permit ready engagement thereof, the plate F will be shifted across the inner face of the end of the receptacle, and this movement carrying the levers E in a similar direction will in turn effect the rocking or rotary movement of the slats to which they are attached. The slats are in cross-section of irregular form, preferably substantially oval or oblong, with the opposite edges beveled, and the normal position of the slats being with their longer axis vertically disposed it will be app reciated that the rotary movement of the slats, above defined, will cause the wider portion thereof to approach a horizontal position, thereby correspondingly reducing the spaces between the slats. In some cases the adjustment of one of the series of slats will be suflicient, while in others it will be found expedient to adjust both series. Each alternating slat is conveniently formed with a series of notches H, which are found to be very advantageous in separating thin or narrow grain.

Although the friction between the several parts is ordinarily sufficient to maintain them in adjusted position, as a safeguard against accidental displacement I provide a series of pins J, projecting slightly inwardly from the inner surface of the ends of the receptacle and in the path of movement of the operating-lever, the lever in turn being provided with an aperture 9, whereby the same may be sprung over any one of the pins, according to its position.

Some auxiliary means should be provided for adjusting the spaces between the outermost slats and the sides of the receptacle, and for this purpose I utilize independently-adjustable auxiliary slats K, one at each side of the receptacle and each having eyes K at its ends slidable over the ends of the bottom pieces L of the ends of the receptacle. These auxinvention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is I 1. A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having slats Wider in crosssection in one direction than in another, means for pivotally mounting said slats, and means for rocking the slats on their pivots to regulate the spaces through the bottom, said means including thimbles mounted upon the end of each slat, a lever connected to one edge of each thimble and extending across the end of each slat, and means connected to said lever for shifting the same.

2. A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having two alternately-arranged series of slats wider in cross-section in one direction than in another, means pivotally mounting and independently connecting such series of said slats, and means for rocking the two series of slats in opposite directions to regulate the spaces through the bottom.

A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having two alternately-arranged series of slats wider in cross-section than in another, means pivotally mounting said slats, and means for rocking the slats of one series independently of the other on their pivots to regulate the spaces through the bottom.

4. A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having two alternately-arranged series of slats wider in cross-section in one direction than in another, means pivotally mounting said slats, and means for rocking the slats of one series independently of the other in opposite directions to regulate the spaces through the bottom.

5. A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having slats wider in crosssection in one direction than in another, means pivotally mounting said slats, and means for rocking the slats on their pivots to regulate the spaces through the bottom, said means includinglevers at the end of each slat, a reciprocatory bar connecting said levers, a springoperating lever connected to said bar and having an aperture therein, and a plurality of pins secured to the side of the receptacle and in the path of the aperture in the lever, whereby the lever may be sprung to cause the aperture therein to engage any of said pins to hold the lever in various positions of adjustment.

6. A separator comprising a receptacle, a bottom therefor having slats wider in crosssection in one direction than in another, means pivotally mounting said slats, means for rocking the slats on their pivots to regulate the spaces through the bottom, and anauxiliary independently-adjustable slat at one side of the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

bottom therefor having slats wider in crosssection in one direction than in another, means pivotallymounting said slats, means for rocking the slats on their pivots to regulate the spaces through the bottom, and an auxiliary independently-adjustalole slat at each side of the receptacle, substantially as andfor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I efiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANCIS L. BLOCK.

Witnesses:

' G. H. HAOKBARTH,

CHARLES A. VIRG-ILS. 

